News & Events

attracting wildlife

Learn about the efforts of the Ruffed Grouse Society to create and expand early successional forests for the benefit of ruffed grouse and American woodcock across Maryland. The afternoon will cover projects all over the state from West to East. Come and learn about the projects and the planning and...

On Saturday, May 18 th , Frederick County and the Monocacy & Catoctin Watershed Alliance will host a half-day workshop from 8:30 AM to noon at Linganore High School. Topics covered in the workshop include reforestation & invasive species control, creating wildlife habitat, nutrient...

The Great Horned Owl is a superb nocturnal hunter of rabbits and large rodents. They consume many different animals that are considered pests to agriculture and community gardens. This fact sheet will show how these effective predators may assist a farming operation or a community garden with...

The Barn Swallow is the most abundant and widely distributed swallow in the world. These acrobatic flyers consume large numbers of insects, including agricultural and garden pests. For this reason, attracting Barn Swallows to your property may be one more positive step in an integrated pest...

The Barn Owl is one of the most secret and highly effective nighttime predators in the world. This species is unrivaled in its effectiveness in controlling rodents such as mice and voles. It has been estimated that during a Barn Owl's approximately-10-year lifespan, it may eat approximately 11,000...

The Eastern Bluebird has suffered due to competition with non-native species, such as the house sparrow, but it is making a comeback with the help of enthusiasts and people seeking to help control insect pests naturally. Bluebirds eat many of the insects that are common pests for gardeners and...

The tree swallow is one of the most acrobatic songbirds in Maryland. This fork-tailed bird is an adept flyer and talented hunter of flying insect pests. Along with bats, bluebirds, and purple martins, they can play an important role in an integrated pest management strategy for controlling many...

People have been enjoying the company of the acrobatic purple martin for centuries. Their melodious chatter and aerial displays are two reasons why so many people seek out their company. However, many of those who create habitat and housing for purple martins are unsuccessful in attracting breeding...

Shrub Lespedezas have proven to provide excellent food for a variety of wildlife. For example, the seed of the Natob bicolor lespedeza is excellent fall and winter food for bobwhite quail, and rabbits and deer browse in the foliage. This fact sheet provides information about how best to make use of...

Establishing habitat for wildlife can be an exciting and rewarding experience. It can also help to conserve your soil and protect water quality of local rivers and streams. This fact sheet will explain how to match the area you wish to develop and the wildlife you wish to attract with the...